How cells move and break down tiny fat droplets
Mechanisms of endosomal trafficking in lipid droplet catabolism
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11326189
Researchers are looking at how cells transport and dismantle small fat droplets to learn more about conditions like obesity and fatty liver.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (OMAHA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11326189 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the tiny fat storage structures inside your cells and how they are moved and sent for breakdown. Scientists will study the lipids and proteins on the droplet surface and track how enzymes such as ATGL change those surfaces to direct droplets toward lysosomes for degradation. They will use cellular models, biochemical analyses, and molecular imaging to map lipid signatures and trafficking steps that control which droplets are targeted for breakdown. The work aims to reveal the signals that tell a cell which fat droplets to recycle and which to keep.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions involving excess fat storage or impaired fat breakdown—for example obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or high triglycerides—would be most relevant if future human studies are offered.
Not a fit: People without disorders of lipid metabolism or those seeking immediate clinical therapies are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new targets for treatments that help remove excess or harmful fat in metabolic diseases like obesity and fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have implicated enzymes like ATGL and lipophagy in lipid breakdown, but translating those molecular insights into patient treatments is still at an early, experimental stage.
Where this research is happening
OMAHA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER — OMAHA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SCHOTT, MICAH — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: SCHOTT, MICAH
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.